Mathematics Performance of ALEKS Users on a State Test in the Rural Midwest

The study examines the impact of the ALEKS adaptive math solution on state mathematics test performance in a medium-sized rural public school district in the Midwest during the 2022-2023 academic year. The analysis focuses on students in grades 6 through 11, including 5,461 ALEKS users and 977 non-users.

The methodology is a correlational study, rated ESSA Tier 3, focusing on statistical relationships between ALEKS usage and state test outcomes. Researchers analyzed proficiency levels (Advanced, Proficient, Non-Proficient) and scale scores, using Pearson correlation coefficients to assess the relationship between ALEKS usage metrics (topics completed, hours spent, days spent) and test performance.

Outcomes examined include state summative assessments. ALEKS users demonstrated higher passing rates (57%) compared to non-users (40%), with more students achieving Advanced (8% vs. 7%) and Proficient (49% vs. 33%) levels. Across grades 6-10, ALEKS users scored above the district average, while grade 11 users scored slightly below average. The strongest correlation was between the number of topics completed and scale scores (r =.47, p <.001), with grade 8 showing the highest correlation (r =.83, p <.001).

Students who passed the state test completed more topics (184.21 vs. 138.58) and spent more days using ALEKS (47.2 vs. 38.35), though they spent slightly less time overall (5.18 vs. 6.64 hours). The study concludes that ALEKS usage is associated with improved student outcomes, though external factors like prior education and teacher pedagogy may also influence results.